Nation IN BRIEF : NEW YORK : Judges Seen Letting Fines Go Unpaid

New York state judges allowed convicted criminals to avoid paying some $40 million in "mandatory" fines last year, the New York Post reported in its Monday editions. Under state law, judges are required to levy a $150 fine on those convicted of a felony; $85 for a misdemeanor and $40 for a violation. The money is supposed to go to crime victims. But the Post, citing court records, said judges waived the fines for nine out of 10 people convicted of a crime, in all some 243,000 times. Judges almost always invoke a provision allowing convicted criminals to waive the fine if they decide it would be a hardship for those convicted, regardless of the crime, the newspaper said.